Appendix B. Keyboard Shortcuts

Rather than using menus, toolbars, or ribbon buttons to get things done in Windows 8, you can use keyboard shortcuts. A keyboard shortcut is either a function key, such as F1, or a combination of keys, such as Ctrl+C (hold down the first key and without letting go, press the second key), that performs an action such as opening Help or copying selected text. Mastering keyboard shortcuts can make you a more efficient computer user.

Some shortcuts work in the Windows Start screen or desktop or in File Explorer, while others work in software programs such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel. The tables in this chapter list keyboard shortcuts that work with the Windows user interface displayed, and general shortcuts grouped into categories such as Editing and Accessibility.

Windows 8 User Interface Shortcuts

Use This Keystroke Combination	To Do This
Windows logo key+B, D, M, and T	Desktop
Windows logo key+C	Charms
Windows logo key+E	File Explorer
Windows logo key+F	Files
Windows logo key+H	Share
Windows logo key+I	Settings
Windows logo key+K	Devices
Windows logo key+L	Lock screen
Windows logo key+P	Second Screen settings
Windows logo key+Q	Apps
Windows logo key+R	Desktop with Run dialog open
Windows logo key+U	Ease of Access Center
Windows logo key+W	Settings Search
Windows logo key+X	Power User menu displays in lower-left corner
Windows logo key+Z	Toolbar along bottom with All Apps button
Windows logo key+Enter	Launch Narrator

Traditional Windows Shortcuts

Use This Keystroke Combination	To Do This
F1	Display Help for the active app
Ctrl+Esc	Toggle between Windows UI and desktop
Alt+Tab	Switch between open programs
Shift+Delete	Delete item permanently using File Explorer
F10	Activate menu bar options
Ctrl+Shift+Esc	Open Windows Task Manager

Editing Shortcuts

Use This Keystroke Combination	To Do This
Ctrl+C	Copy
Ctrl+X	Cut
Ctrl+V	Paste
Ctrl+B	Bold
Ctrl+U	Underline
Ctrl+I	Italic
Ctrl+Z	Undo last command
Ctrl+A	Select all items in active window

File Explorer Shortcuts

Use This Keystroke Combination	To Do This
F2	Rename selected object
F3	Find all files
Alt+Enter	Open properties for selected object
Press and hold down Ctrl+Shift while dragging a file to the desktop or a folder.	Create a shortcut
F5	Refresh active window.
F6 or Tab	Cycle through panes in File Explorer

Accessibility Shortcuts

Use This Keystroke Combination	To Do This
Press Shift five times	Toggle StickyKeys on and off
Press left mouse button and hold the right Shift key for eight seconds	Toggle FilterKeys on and off
Press down and hold the Num Lock key for five seconds	Toggle ToggleKeys on and off
Left Alt+left Shift+Num+Lock	Toggle MouseKeys on and off
Left Alt+left Shift+Print Screen	Toggle high contrast on and off

Desktop Shortcuts

Use This Keystroke Combination	To Do This
Windows logo key+M	Minimize all
Windows logo key+F1	Help
Shift+Windows logo key+M	Undo minimize all
Windows logo key+Tab	Cycle through open apps
Ctrl+Windows logo key+F	Find computer

Dialog Box Keyboard Commands

Use This Keystroke Combination	To Do This
Tab	Move to the next control in the dialog box.
Shift+Tab	Move to the previous control in the dialog box.
Spacebar	If the current control is a button, this clicks the button. If the current control is a check box, this toggles the check box. If the current control is an option, this selects the option.
Enter	Equivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with the outline).
Esc	Equivalent to clicking the Cancel button.
Alt+underlined letter in dialog box item	Move to the corresponding item.